Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 1

Written Answers. - Military Entertainment Expenditure.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

382 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Defence the main components of expenditure in relation to official military entertainment in 1997 and the anticipated expenditure in 1998; the amount expended in each of the years 1996 and 1997 in entertainment of visiting members of the Oireachtas; the allowances expended by certain military appointment holders in each of the years 1996 and 1997; the amount expended on entertaining members of the press; and the amount expended at commissioning ceremonies in 1994. [1335/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith):

The main components of expenditure on official military entertainment in 1997 were in respect of foreign naval vessels visiting Irish ports, foreign visits by Irish Naval vessels, commissioning ceremonies, wings ceremonies, passing out parades, expenses incurred in relation to entertainment for St. Patrick's Day by Irish personnel serving with United Nations missions and allowances for official entertainment held by certain military appointment holders which was mainly expended on entertainment of visiting members of foreign Defence Forces.

A budget of £55,000 has been provided for official military expenditure for 1998. There is no breakdown available of expenditure by military appointment holders in the format requested but the main part of their allocation was expended on official visits by foreign military attachés. Expenditure on commissioning ceremonies in 1994 amounted to £2,324.